Target game



April 1938. E. w. C RESWELL ZJWJIQ TARGET GAME Filed May 18, 1935 MWQWWW Patented Apr. 12, 1938 err TARGET GAME 3 Claims.

My present invention is a novel, improved, and attractive type of target game, or toy, and preferably comprises a target member having a movable center, preferably rotating or oscillating, and in combination with means to produce a sparking feature, or series of sparks.

In my present device I have developed. an apparatus which may be of any suitable size either for a standard type of target game or a small ioldable toy, preferably used with a missile of any sort such as a bow and arrow in the large size game, blow gun, pop gun, or, in fact, any missile which may be thrown against the target, which immediately when striking the center, which is rotatable or oscillating, thereupon produces the sparking effect constituting an important and striking novelty in the invention.

In carrying out the invention in preferred form, as illustrated in the drawing, I have shown same as a target having a foldable or detachable stand, and a rotatable center member, which may be mounted on a rubber band or other means to produce the quick and speedy rotation of the center when struck by the missile, releasing the target and effecting rotation of the bulls-eye or center, which, in turn, carries metal devices adapted to strike against a sheet of emery cloth, sandpaper, or the like, and producing the sparking efiect which gives an attractive, desirable and even startling effect.

Referring to the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of my device in the form of a target with a movable center;

Fig. 2 is a reverse view showing the back and supporting stand, and the rubber band or equivalent means holding the rotatable center in position;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional View on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. l is a side view illustrating in dotted lines the rotatable target and sparking effect, and

Fig. 5 is a detailed view showing the handwinding means to rewind the rubber band, or equivalent, when setting the target.

As shown in the drawing, the target I is of the usual circular contour, having a plurality of circles formed on the face thereof, which may be lettered with the bulls-eye 100, and the subsequent circles extending outwardly may be lettered 80, 60, 40, or in any desired manner, or may be of any contrasting colors with or without the lettering figures. A suitable tripod or stand is designated with diverging legs 2-2 and a rearwardly extending support 3, which may be attachably or otherwse secured to the target l by a plate or retaining fastening member 5.

As clearly shown in the drawing, this may be of wood, metal, or other material, and suitably proportioned for the size and dimensions of the target and may be permanently or removably attached to the target I, as desired, folding up into compact space by a pivotal connection with the rearwardly'extending lug 3 and the member 5. The center of the target I is cut out at e to receive a moving, rotating, or oscillating bulls-eye it of slightly less diameter than that of thecut-out opening, which bulls-eye member is supported approximately central of the cut-out opening 9 by yieldable members 12-4 2, such as rubber bands, springs, or equivalent, attached to the bulls-eye center [ii at diametrically opposite points Mlt, and having the opposite ends attached to the target I at IEI5 by any suitable means, such as the S-clips illustrated in the 9 drawing. The bulls-eye l9 thus is yieldingly and, in effect, floating approximately in the center of the opening 9; and upon winding up the bulls-eye and contracting the yielding rubber spring or equivalent members I2--l2 and thereupon releasing of the same, a quick rotative movement of the bulls-eye ID will be produced, as will be readily appreciated.

In order to hold the bulls-eye II] when the members l2l2 are thus wound, I provide a trigger member secured pivotally at 2| to the target l and adapted to engage a metal projecting member 22 carried on the bulls-eye, which member is effective to produce the sparking effect upon the release of the bulls-eye and the rotation effected by the unwinding of the members i2-l2 by striking and traversing a sandpaper or emery cloth strip 25 positioned in alignment therewith at the rear of the target.

If desired, two metal striking members 22 may be provided at diametrically opposite positions on the bulls-eye l0 and both in alignment with the sandpaper strip 25, thus increasing the sparking effect upon the rotation of the bulls-eye It. The strip 25 may, if desired, be appropriately secured to the target l, but I prefer to secure the same in adjustable position so as to enable it to be diametrically adjusted to compensate for wear and to insure the continuation of the sparking effect during the use of the game or target.

To this end I attach one portion of the sandpaper strip, 25, for example the upper portion as shown at 26, permanently to the target I, and adjustably secure the opposite end through a friction member 21 also secured to the target 1 and in diametrically opposite position to the point 26 and in alignment so the strip 25 will be struck and traverse substantially throughout its length by the metal member 22 on the rotating bulls-eye ID. The strip can thus be frictionally held by the member 21 in adjusted position and tightened or released to obtain the best effect.

In order to Wind up the members I2 the bullseye 10 can be rotated by hand or, if desired, a handle can be attached, as shown in Fig. 5, to opposite ends of the members i2 thus permitting the bulls-eye ID to be set on the trigger 2i] and then, with the flexible members l2 attached to the rotatable handle 3!), as shown in Fig. 5, this handle can be turned and the members [2 wound up. A convenient construction is shown whereby the handle Si! is rotatably secured to the outer edge of the target I by a clip 3|, having an eye 32 therein through which the shank of the handle passes.

A depending portion of the handle 39 as illustrated at 33 is arranged so that the handle 30 may pull outwardly, twisting up to wind the member l2, and then released to permit the clip 33 to engage the adjacent edge of the target I and thus hold the wound-up member 12 in its tensioned position, the target bulls-eye 18 being meanwhile held by the trigger 20.

With the construction as above described and the bulls-eye ii! floating in the center of the target, a missile striking any part of the bulls-eye Ii), either above or below the line of the members l2, will vibrate, shake, or move the bulls-eye sufiiciently to release the trigger 2i and permit it to drop, thus instantly causing the bulls-eye H) to rotate, unwinding the members i 2, striking the metal part 2 against the sandpaper or emery cloth 25, and produce the sparking feature.

It will be appreciated that various modifications of my invention may be developed, any suitable sion-operated,

material or materials employed, and any desired size or design utilized within the scope of the invention and the claims. So far as I am advised, it is broadly new to have a game or target of the kind described with the floating center capable of being released by a missile of any kind striking any part of the floating bulls-eye, effecting a rotation or oscillation of the same, and I wish to claim this feature broadly.

It is also a distinct novelty, so far as known, to have an automatic sparking or lighting elfect produced by a movable target center when struck by a missile, and I wish to claim this feature broadly herein.

If desired, special missiles may be developed, such as blunt arrows, rubber-tipped devices, or the like, and rules, regulations, and conditions for individuals, groups, series or team matches can be employed in connection therewith.

I claim:

'1. A target of the kind described, having a rotatable center, means to place the rotatable center under tension, and trigger means operative to release the rotatable center when under tensioniupon the striking of the center at any point by a missile, or the like.

2. A target of the kind described having tennon explosive, spark creating means constructed and arranged to be automatically actuated by the striking of a missile against the surface of a target to produce a sparking effect.

3. A target of the kind described having tension-operated, non-explosive, spark-creating means constructed and arranged to be automatically actuated by the striking of a missile against the surface of a target to produce a plurality of continuous sparking effects.

EVERETT W. CRESWELL. 

